News Release

Friday, August 29, 2008

Abandoned Baby's Mother Arrested

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department has located the mother of the abandoned baby.

The press conference sponsored by Newton Area Detectives on August 28, 2008, requesting the help of the public and the media almost immediately began bringing in results. Today, August 29, 2008 at around 10:00 a.m., information provided by several anonymous tips began to paint a similar picture, regarding the identity of the mother and her whereabouts. Simultaneously, reporter Julio Cesar Ortiz of Univision Channel 34 began to gather similar information through his own investigation which he shared with detectives from Newton Division.

Patrol Officers responded to the 2700 block of West 8th Street in the Rampart Area of Los Angeles. Newton detectives credited Rampart Patrol with an exceptional preliminary investigation that led to the identification and arrest of the Mother, Maria Teresa Claro, 22. Claro has been booked on felony child endangerment charges.

There was a 2-year-old female child that was in the care of the suspect and has been removed from the home. The child has been placed into the custody of The Department of Children and Family Services.

The Los Angeles Police Department would like to offer sincere thanks to the members of the public and the media who came forward and allowed this important situation to be resolved.